We all knew the two main electoral candidates of the 2024 election: Donald Trump, Republican, and Kamala Harris, Democrat. However, a party that is often overlooked is the green party; specifically, a member who is overlooked is Jill Stein. She not only ran for the 2024 election, but also the 2016 and 2012 elections. Even though no other political party besides Republican and Democrat have ever won.

Stein, a Harvard graduate in medicine and social relations, transferred from internal medicine to environmental health activism after noticing pollution’s impact on her patients. She co-authored “In Harm’s Way” and advocated for policies to reduce toxic risks, especially for children. Her activism, which began in the 1969 Harvard protest, includes pushing for mercury pollution controls and cleaner coal plants in Massachusetts. She has testified before government bodies, appeared on national TV, and supported political finance reform. 

Stein has been named a “vote stealer.” People who lean blue are enraged because they believe that Stein has stolen valuable votes from Harris. Stein has been referred to as a “vote stealer” before. In the 2016 election when Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were head to head, Stein had about 1.4 million votes, which were supposedly more important for Clinton to have. However, year after year people complain about the two main parties. People believe that the two systems are “failing” the U.S. But now when another party arises and wants to compete, that party/person is considered a “vote stealer,” so what does America really want? 

On top of her uplifting spirit, she has some good policies. Stein covers things involving the environment. I am not disregarding her recent involvement with the Palestine and Israel situation; however, that does not mean her environmental stance should not be put to the side or ignored. She believes that climate change is real, and we can do things to improve it before it gets to an irreversible stage. Unlike our current president, who believes that taking care of the financial and business side is what we should pay more attention to. Though the business side is important, the environmental side of things is just as or even more important.

After her constantly not winning president, why does Stein continue to run? After all,  running for president is a big thing. Her running time after time again, inspires people time and time again. Her perseverance after loss, gives people hope that maybe we won’t always be run by an elephant or donkey. With that I’ll leave you with this thought: would we have been better off with Jill Stein?